Collapsible stool or table



y 29, 1952 H. s. LEGGETT COLLAPSIBIJE STOOL OR TABLE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1Filed Feb. 14, 1951 mm M mm m M A W July 29, 1952 s LEGGETT 2,604,932

COLLAPSIBLE STOOL 0R TABLE Filed Feb. 14. 1951 2 SHEETS'-SHEET 2INVENTQR. HENRY b. LEGGETT Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED"?PATENT-51OFFFI-CE'YK:

. coLLAPsm -Es'rooL on TABLE I Brodldyn, I I

.Applicatio'n.February 14, 1951;;Serial'No. 210,918

class.

Thisinvention relates to. a new and. improved collapsible stool ortable.-

. One object-of the invention is the provision of such a device which isof. sturdy construction and yet is foldable intoacompact uni-tfor:gcarry e ing purposes,- which may be made in rnany sizes varying from: astool for small -.childr en .to gbe used around the-house to largstoolsfor-general use, especially for picnics. sporting events, etc. andin stilllarger dimensions tobe used as a table for most any eventuality.I

Another object of theinvention is to construct the-device in such.manner that onecstroke of the operating means foldsor unfoldsttheadeviceAnother object of the invention :isto construct the device in suchmanner that when-itis un folded itisautomaticallyclo'ched .in: sue tioner a For further comprehension of j-the invention, and ofthe .objectsandadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the -following descriptionand 'raccompanyingdrawings and .to the ap; pended claims in which thevariousnoyel features of the invention aremore f farticularly s e@forth.: In the accompanying rantings forming amaterial part of thisdisclosure: Fig. 1. is a plan view .of the'device in unfolded condition.j Fig. 2 is a side elevational view :of the device in unfoldedcondition,r i j Fig. 3 is a side. elevational view-of the device in foldedcondition. i I Fig. 4 is a fragmentary. .p'erspective .-viewfrom beneathof the top portion of the device.-.- I v 5 is an enlarged sectionalvi'ewon line 55 of Fig. 2, with certain partsflleft out for clarity. Fig. 6.is anenlarged/fragmentary sectional view on line fi -filof Fig.2... IFig. Tisa sectional view 'on'linefL-lofFig. 6. Fig. 8 .is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view on line 88 ofFig. 4.. Referring now to thedrawings, the device com-1 pris'esa center post In atop which is secureda disc ll. Both the'post l-0. and the.d is.c H are here shown as made'of wood,.butit willbe undcrstood that any other sturdy material may-beutilized. Pivotally mounted in a, depression [2. in the top face of discI I, isnahandle l3 by which thedevice is folded and unfoldedaspresently, will be described. V

Secured to the'under side ofdisc Ll by. means of a plurality of hook.eyes' l4.is ametal ring l5 about which the inner ends of a plurality ofradial rods [6 arelooped as at J]. ...Pivotally se-., cured toeachrod l6byj..me'ans of-hgok eyes it area pair .of matchedseg ments gim'thehoolgeyes i8 extendingfrom the ;rods-into" the under sides of theadjacentedges-of. the associated pair of segments as-bestillustrated inFig. 4., ,The segments 20. are located .so that their 'inner edgessubstantially abut the peripheral edge of disc' H. A ring 2| issecured-onthepost l-llga short distance .be1ow -the vvdisc l lzbymeans-of-hook eyes 22. Pivotally secured on'thegring-l-l by means Ofloops 23 at their inner, downwardly oifset ends are .a plurality ofradiallyextendingrods 24. Each rod24 extends. between theedges of. theproximatesegment 20.0f adjacent pairs of said segments andv ispivotally. secured ;to' said proximate segments by means of hook eyes25.

. Each rod.2;4 engagesin-thebore 26; of a: 'con-' nector 21 which. islooped through a. suitable hole in. the upper endof a bar '28; a Thebars ZB-"are provided at: their. lower ends with hook eyes '30 whichengage :a, ring 3 l.- whichsurrounds the: post .1 ,It is to-bementionedthat if. desiredthe ring 3 I may bereplaced; by a. tube or sleever Alsoengaging. the ring I, are four-hook eyes- 32 which are secureddnthe-upper ends of bars, 3 3, The bars 33 extend-downward alongside. ofthepost l0 and" nearv their lower ends are interconnected byfourfixtures 34, each of which is formed as shown in F}igs.;6 and- 7. Thefixtures Maresecured to thebars bymeans of hookeyes .i5.vvhose shanksextend through the stock; of the former. E'achfixture 34 is the form :ofa metal strip whoseends-are curledslightiy to conform to, thecross-sectional configuration of the bars 33,=-an d which, between thebars-.33 arcsinward toward thepost l0, thesaid inward arc being toa-much greater degree at the, top. of the strip. than at the bottom. Aninclined arcuate guideway 'I36, is thus provided. a v I ,Aaapim to theguid'eways 3.6 areffourl ,meiijar C eaedmthexmd m atltheir iipiijerlhegconstruction such. that. wh n thedevice isQ-ir'i the the. unfolded.position .oi-Figs; 1; and '2, the..segrnents. 20..form;with thejdiscll-f able to for, stool'whilch is: supported. by' the barsfZB,

' arsiiiitiiriibeingisiippdrted .byithefbaiisi'33 3 which are held up bythe legs 31 through the loops 42. Thus the device is automaticallylocked in unfolded position by the attempt of its own weight to spreadthe legs 31. To fold the device, all that is required is to grasp thering 3| of each pair to fold together about their con- 1 necting rod I6,and toward the post 10 due to the differential pivoting of the rods I6and 24.

To reopen the device the above procedure is actuated in reverse.

In view of the above it will readily be. seen that 1' the ring 3| mayadvantageously be replaced by a sleeve or tube if desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentof' myinvention, it isto be u nderstoo'd that I do not'1im it-niy s1 f to theprecise construction herein disc'lo'sed and the rightis reserved to allchanges and-modifications coming within i the scope of the invention-asdefined in the ppended'claimsf i I Having thus describ'edlmy invention,what I claim"- as i new, and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent is'z 1. nioldingtable or-stool which: comprises a centerpo'st,'-a"'dis'catopsaid post, a handle recessed into the upper-faceofsaid disc, a ring supported from and beneath said disc, a second ringsupported on-the-post a short distance below the first said ring,' aplurality of radial rods having their inner ndspivotally anchored on thefirst said ringa inatch'd' pairof segments pivotally connected at thirpr'oxi'mate' edges to each said rodith'e innr ends-fof the segmentssubstantially abutting the peripheral? edge of the disc, aplurality" ofsecond rods'extending radially from said- -s'econdrin g and having theirinner ends pivotallj secured thereto, said second rods being pivotallyconnected to the" proximate edges" of the proximate"; segmentsofadjacent airs 'apiu aiiay of "barse'a'chlhaving its upper end slidablymanager a second rod, a ring surrounding said post an'd 'to v which thelower ends of said bars are connected, four bars having'ftheirupper'endsic o'nnected to the last said ring and extending downwardalongside of said post, brackets interconnecting the lower ends of thelast said bars, four legs pivoted at their upper ends to sait i"yg ostbetgvieenthe last said bars and n a n sa gbr sks i an a 0 conneeted toeach bracketfand "securing the associated leg thereagainst. .i Atfoldingtable or stool which comprises a ccnterrlostl a "d sci t n stgmatan l recessed into the upper face of, said disc, a ring supportedfrom and. beneath said disc, a second ring v s shortdistancebelowthering, a"plural ity'of;radial rods having their. i'nr'ierv ends'pivotallyanchored, on the first said "ring; a matched pair ofsegments pivotallyconhectedat their proximate edges .to each said rod, the inner endssofthejsegments substantially abuttin thej e hc' la edg o thed ca uralityof second rods extending radially iromsaid second ring andhavingtheirinner endspivptally e ured thereto, said se l dro R ina p ptay connected, each to the. proximate edges of; the proximate segrnents ofadjacent pairs, a plurality of bars each having its upper end slid'ablyconnected to a second rod," 3, ring surrounding said post and to whichthe lower ends of said bars are connected, four bars having their upperends connected to the last said ring and extending downward alongside ofsaid post, brackets interconnectingthe lower ends of the last said bars,four legs pivoted at their upper ends to said post between the last saidbars and engaging said brackets, and a loop connected to each bracketand securing the associated leg thereagainst, each said bracketconsisting of a metal strap extending between the bars and having theportion between the bars arcing inward to fit a said leg, said arc beinginclined outward 'as it extends downward.

,3. A folding table or stool which comprises a center post, a disc atopsaid post, a handle recessed into the upper face of said disc, a ringsupported from and beneath said disc, a second ring supported on thepost a short distance below the first said ring, a plurality of radialrods having their inner ends pivotallylanchored; on; the first saidring,a matched pair of segments pivot'ally connected at their proximateedgesto each' 's'aid rod, the inner ends of the-segment'sfsubstantial ly'abutting the peripheral 'edge" ofthe' use; a plurality of second rodsextending radially from said second ring and'havingtheiriinnr 'endspivotally secured thereto, said secondro'ds being pivotally-"connectedeach to the proximate edges of the proximate segments of adjacentpairsga plurality of bars each having its upper end slidably connectedto a second rod, a ring 'surround ing said postan'd to which the lowerends offsaid bars are connected, 'four bars having their upper endsconnected to the lastsaidring and extending downward alongsideofsaidpo'stfbrackets interconnecting the lower ends of the lastsaidbars, four legs pivoted at their upper ends to said post between thelast said bars and engaging said brackets; and a loop connected toeachbracket and securing the associated leg'thereagainst, each saidbracket consisting of a "m'etal strap extending between the bars andhaving-its center-portionarcin'g inward to form a downwardly andoutwardly inclined guidewayf for i a said leg. Y 1' 4; A' foldingtable'orstool which comprises a center post, a disc atop said post, ahandlefrecessed into the upper face ofjsaid disc, a ring supported fromand beneathjsaiddiscl ;a secon'd ring supported on the post a shortdistance, below the first said ring, a plurality jo f radi alrodshav ingtheir inner ends pivotally anchoredon thev first said ring,,a matchedpair-pf segrhentsfpivotally connectedat their proximatee'dgesto eachsaid red; the "inner ends of 1t S gments substantially abutting theperipheral edgefof the disc, a plurality of secondrodsfextejndingradially from said second ring and having; their inner ends pivotallysecuredrthereto', said second rods being pivotally connected each to'the'pro "'rnate edges 10 1 theproxin iate segments of jadjacent pairs,aplurality oi 'ba rs. each having. its upper end slidably connected toa; second 'rod,' aj ring surrounding said post and to which the lowerends of 'saidbars are connected, downwardmovementor the last said ringfoldingthe segments of each pair against one another and alljof thepairs toward said post, four barsnhaving their bars four legs pivotedrat theirup'perjends to said post .between the last, said bars and vengagf ing said brackets, and a loop connectedt'o "each bracket andsecuring the associated leg thereagainst.

5. A folding table or stool which comprises a center post, a disc atopsaid post, a handle recessed into the upper face of said disc, a ringsupported from and beneath said disc, a second ring supported on thepost a short distance below the first said ring, a plurality of radialrods having their inner ends pivotally anchored on the first said ring,a matched pair of segments pivotally connected at their proximate edgesto each said rod, the inner ends of the segments substantially abuttingthe peripheral edge of the disc, a plurality of second rods extendingradially from said second ring and having their inner ends pivotallysecured thereto, said second rods being pivotally connected each to theproximate edges of the proximate segments of adjacent pairs, a pluralityof bars each having its upper end slidably connected to a second rod, aring surrounding said post and to which the lower ends of said bars areconnected, downward-movement of the last said ring folding the segmentsof each pair against one another and all of the pairs toward said post,four bars having their upper ends connected to the last said ring andextending downward alongside of said post, brackets interconnecting thelower ends of the last said bars, four legs pivoted at their upper endsto said post between the last said bars and engaging said brackets, anda loop connected to each bracket and securing the associated legthereagainst, each said bracket consisting of a metal strap extendingbetween the bars and having its center portion arcing inward to form adownardly and outwardly inclined guideway for a said leg.

6. A folding table or stool which comprises a center post, a disc atopsaid post, a handle recessed into the upper face of said disc, a ringsupported from and beneath said disc, a second ring supported on thepost a short distance below the first said ring, a plurality of radialrods having their inner ends pivotally anchored on the first said ring,a matched pair of segments piv- 6 otally connected at their proximateedges to each said rod, the inner ends of the segments substantiallyabuttingfthe peripheral edge of the disc, a plurality of second rodsextending radially from said second ring; and having their inner endspivotally secured thereto, said second rods being pivotally conncted'each to the proximate edges of the proximate segments of adjacent pairs,a plurality of bars each ably connected'to a second rod, a ringsurrounding said post and 'to which the lower ends of said bars areconnected, downward movement of the last said ring folding the segmentsof each pair against one, another and all of the pairs toward each post,ifour bars having their upper ends connected'to the last said ringandextending downwardalongside of said post, brackets interconnecting thelower ends of the last said bars, four legs pivoted at their upper endsto said post between thelast said bars and engaging said brackets, and'a loop connected to each bracket and securingthe associated legthereagainst, up-

ward movement of the last said ring drawing said legs upward and inwardagainst said post through said brackets, each said bracket consisting ofa metal strap extending between the bars and having its center portionarcing inward to form a downwardly and outwardly inclined guideway for asaid leg.

i HENRY S. LEGGETT.

.nEFERENoEs CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT Number Name Date 327,311 Randles Sept. 29, 1885361,527 Kazanjian Apr. 19, 1887 514,851 Hiser Feb. 13, 1894 542,245Everett July 9, 1904 767,246 Rogers Aug. 9, 1904 786,732 Crandall Apr.4, 1905 having its upper end slid-

